Abstract:
Casting aside its image of a conservative party of old leaders, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) yesterday announced its "bold and futuristic" election manifesto for Punjab's development.

The manifesto also assured a free health insurance cover of Rs.200,000 to every farmer and landless labourer. It said that free power for tubewells, free canal irrigation and exemption from land revenue will come into force right from the day one if the Akali-BJP combine was voted to power.

The Akalis promised new ventures and projects in IT, fashion technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology and other sunrise sectors.